Game apparatus



A April 12, 1938.

P. B. CORSELLO GAME APPARATUS Fild Aug. 15, 1935 ZShee'ts-Sheet l I I I I I I I l l l I I I I3 III Aprifi l2, i938. B. CORSELLO 5 3 8 GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 12, 19 38 PATENT OFFICE GAME msaa'rus Philip B. comm, mam-1i, Pa.

I Application August 15,

T935,- S'erlal No. 38,296

8 Claims. (01. -273-'-1 1 9) My invention: relates to apparatus for playing games, and consists in game apparatus which is adapted to speak. That is to say, the invention lies in the -organization of speech-reproducing mechanism with a game, whereby, during the course of play, various audible comments are automatically directed atthe players.

,In exemplary way, the invention has been developed in pin-ball apparatus-a well-known sort 10 of game apparatus which is enjoying popularity at the present time,.and in such embodiment the invention will be described.

In the accompanying-drawings, Fig. 11s a view in perspective 'of a pin-ball. game apparatus," a

15 portion of the frame or body of apparatus bein broken away to reveal internal structure. Fig.

II is an electric wiring diagram of the apparatus.

Fig. III is a fragmentary view partlp in side elevation andpartlyin vertical section, showing (to larger scale than Fig. I) a synchronizing device which 'is embodied in the speech-reproducing mechanism. Figs. IV and -V -;arefragmentary views, comparable with Fig. m, and illustrating particular elements of the synchronizing device in 5 successive positions of operation. Fig. VI is ,a

a fragm ntary view of the synchronizing device,

showing a rotatable cam element thereof in section, on the plane VI--VI of Fig. V. Fig. VII is a sectional view, on identical plane with Fig. VI,

30 showing theca'm element-in a more advanced position of rotation. Fig. VIII is a sectional view of the cam" on different plane; the cam is' ,shown in' a still further advanced position of rotation, and the plane of section is indicated at 5'- VIII-(III in Fig. V. .And Fig. IX is a fragmentary view, illustrating in vertical section one of the electric make-and-breal; devices embodied in coin-receivingdevice I0 is adapted normally to the :apparatus for controlling the speech-repro ducing mechanism.-

40 Referring to Fig. I, the pin-ball game is shown asincluding in usual way aplaylng surface I, supported in frame 2. in a position inclined to the horizontal. The playing surface is provided with y a plurality of orifices I, and a escapist device 4 45 is provided for projecting balls (I) through an. pwardly inclined way-O, and upon the upper end of playingsurface 1.. Under gravity each ball I rolls downward (left torightllg. I) over the 'in-- A clined surface Land falls through one or another 150 of theoriflces 3. The surface .I carries groups of rigid, vertical pins I, against which therolling ball impinges; the ball is deflected by the pins and takes a tortuous course over the playingsurface; finally entering one of the oriilcesl; the- 55' several orifices have diilerent scorlngvalues', and

theaim of the player is to cause the ball to enter the orifice of highest scoring value. The catapult device 4 is a well-known structure, embodying a spring-backed plunger 4a;- a ball-feeding device (notshown, but also of well-known structure) 5 is adapted, upon the thrusting in of a knobbed plunger 8, to present balls, say five balls, one after another as the player desires, to the inner end of catapult plunger la; as each ball is presented the player retracts the catapult plunger 10 against spring pressure and releases it; thus, the ball is propelled up the ,way 6 and upon the playing surface. The further the catapult plunger is retracted, the greater is the velocity imparted to the ball upon its release; accordingly, the '15 player-retracts, the plunger a greater or less distance, depending on the velocity which in-his judgment should be imparted to the ball, in order for it to reach the orifice 3 he" intends. when flve balls have value of the orifices entered reflect the skill of the player. v In accordance with usual practice, one or more electric make-and-break contacts 9 are organized in the playing surface I (of. Fig. I1, or with particular orifices 3 (cf. Fig. IX), whereby the passage of the ball across the contacts closes an electric control circuit leading to some ancillary electric mechanism. I am aware that automatic electric score counters, electric lights, and other electric devices have, hitherto, been organized with pin-ball games, and in such manner have been controlled by make-and-brea'k contacts, and-as will presently appear,'I advantageously employ such ball-actuated contacts to control the operation of speech-reproducing mechanism. In further accordance with usual practice, a

prevent played balls from returning to the ballfeeding device (8),so that when the total num- 40 her of balls-dive in this case-have been played,

the apparatus is locked against further play, until 'the, playing fee is paid, by inserting the proper coin inthe device I ll, and thrusting the usual slide-bar Mm of the device inward. In still further refinement, the inward thrust of the slide-bar la is adapted to close a master switch located inthe electric wiring between the ancillary electric devices, above mentioned, and the electric supply lines. Thus, the apparatus is con- 5 1- n'ected-to electric supply during the play. Addi-' tionally, an automatic switch-throwing device is included with the organization; the switchthrowing device may in well-known manner embody clockwork which is set in motion when the 5 been played, the total score slide-bar soc is thrust inward and thenreleaaed for play to begin; the clockwork serves to hold the switch in circuit-closing position for a predetermined interval of time, and then automatically to release it; and the interval of time in which the switch is held in closed position is sufiicient for the playing of a single game. .Thus, the fee must he paid before the balls can be played or before current is supplied to the electrical elements of the apparatus'and the supply lines of the current are automatically opened at a predetermined interval after the slide-bar llla has been thrust inward and released. All these features, generally considered, are known to the art, and it is deemed unnecessary to prolong this specification with minute consideration of them. It may be mentioned, however, that the master switch, which is responsive to the slide bar Ice for closing the electric'wiring oi the game apparatus with the supply lines, is indicated diagrammatically,'at ii, in Fig. H, and the clockwork is indicated at [12. The clockwork includes a latch-arm it which, upon the inward movement of the slide-bar Ma (upward movement, as viewed in Fig. II), engages and holds the switch it in circuit-closing positionior a predetermined interval of time. At the end 05 such interval the clockwork-swings the latch-arm clockwise and releases the switch arm ii. The switch arm swings into open position, and connection to the electric supply is interrupted.

In accordance with my invention, I organize a phonograph record, or equivalent sound-recording means, it with the game apparatus. An electric pick-up i5 is mounted on an arm l6, and, through the instrumentality of the usual stylus ll, the pick-up is adapted in well-known manner to cooperate with the spiral sound-recording groove in the record. The record carries a plurality of difierent recorded speeces or records, such as A very fine shot, You have more luck than skill, Robber, call the police, etc.; indeed,

/ upwards of 150 different comments may be re= record.

corded in the record, and records of sounds other than speech may be carried by the record. With-.

in a housing I 8 the usual driving gear is organized for rotating the record It continuously, so long as the master switch (N, Fig. 11) remains in closed or playing position, and record-repeating means are provided for automatically tilting the arm 16 in such manner as to lift the stylus clear of the record, then, while holding the stylus above the face of the record, swinging the arm back into starting position, and finallylowering the am so that the stylus enters the starting groove in the means operates to do this automatically as the stylus reaches the end of the record groove. Several record-repeating devices of this sort have been on the market for years, and it is needless to involve the drawings and specification of'this case with a description of such well-known instrumcritalities. Suflice it to say, that within the Q I5 is maintained in operative engagement with the record groove. v

The electric pick-up l5 'ls'connected, by wires b,

in series with a synchronizing mechanism 20 In known way the record-repeating amazes and a coupling transformer 25 of anamplifying unit 22; the amplifying unit is energized through wires c, connected to the electric supply lines and subject to the control of switch H, as shown in Fig. II. A dynamic speaker 23 is connected to the amplifier by means of leads 4!. So long as the circuits 'a, b, c.- and d are closed, and the stylus l1 engages the groove of record i l, the speaker 23 in well known manner will audibly reproduce the speech recorded on the record. However, as will hereinafter more fully appear, the synchronizing'mechanism 20 normally interrupts the circuit b, and, in consequence, while all other elements of the apparatus may be operating with speech-reproducing effect, the speaker 23 will normally remain silent. Occasionally, during the play of the game, the synchronizing mechanism operates to close thecircuit b, wherethe record.

includes an electromagnet 24 adapted to be en ergized by a circuit e. The circuit e may be energlzed through a transformer (not shown) connected to the 110 volt electric supply lines, or, as shown, the circuit may include a battery 25. Thecurrent required for the momentary energizing of the electromagnet is slight, and a battery will give good'service. The circuit e includes two or more of the contacts 9, which, as already described, normally stand in circuit-interruptlng position,- and are severally adapted to be temporarily closed by the passageof a ball 5 over a certain position on the playing surface l, or through a particular orifice 8, provided in the surface. The momentary closing of any one of the make-and-break contacts or switches d is eflectlve to energize the electromagnet 2d, and, as will appear below, the momentary energizing of the electromagnet is efiecti ve to operate means for closing a pair of contacts 25 and completing the circuit b. The said means for closing the contacts 26 operate automatically to hold the circult b closed'a suiiicient interval of timeior the apparatus to reproduce one of the' speeches recorded on the record 55. v Additionally, the mechanism 26 embodies meansfor bringing about the closing of the contacts 26 while the stylus W is in one or another of .the unrecorded portions of the groove in record, that is, the portions of the groove between successive speech recordings.

Accordingly, in each speech-reproducing operation, the circuit b is closed before the record of the particular speech to be announced enters engagement with the stylus. Thus, each; time that a played ball 5 momentarily closes one of the make-and-break contacts 9, the apparatus operates to make a complete statement or comment to the playen. In this way, or by manifest modifications of my invention, various ideas may be readily delevoped, to amuse the players by sound. v v

Turning to Figs. III to VIII, the structure of the synchronizing mechanism will be considered in-detail. A shaft 29 -is rotatably mounted in two standards 21 and 28, and, between the standards,

. the shaft carries a cam -30; a collar 3 I is-integrated with the shaft, and a helical compression spring 32 is organized between the cam and-the standard 21; the spring tends to urge the shaft lar 3| abuts the standard 28 and positively limits the movement'of the shaft under the 'urging of .the spring. 'Ihe'leftehand end of the shaft 29 (Fig. III) projects into a socket, and includes 2o Advantageously, the synchronizing mechanism to the right, as viewed in Fig .411, while the cola longitudinally extending slot 33, through which a pin 35, extends; the pin is fixed to the socket 34, and affords a coupling between the shaft and the socket, whereby these two elements may rotate in unison, while axial movement of the shaft relatively to the socket is permitted; The socket or coupling element 34 includes a journal por-- tion 34a rotatabiy'flx'ed in a standard 39, and a worm-gear 31 is secured upon the journal portion 34a, as shown. A worm-pinion 39 meshes with the gear 31; the worm-gear rotates in 'unison with the driving spindle 39 of the usual record-rotating platen 49, so that the record l4 and the shaft- 29 are caused to rotate together. In this case the record moves through 8- rotations while the shaft 29 rotates once.

The particular connections between the spindle 39 and the worm-pinion 39 consist in a vertical stem 4| that carries the worm-pinion; the stem 4| is of square cross section, and at its'lower end projects into a square bore in a sleeve element 42, while the upper end of the stem is rotatably supportedin a bracket 36a, integral with standard 36; the upper tip 390 of the record-rotating spindle 39 is also of square cross section and nests in a correspondingly shaped recess in the sleeve 42; a collar 43 is secured to the stem 4|, and, between this collar and the sleeve 42, a coiled spring 44 is arranged on the stem. The spring 44 normally urges the sleeve 42 downward into its illustrated position, whereby the spindle 39 and pinion 38 are interconnected for common rota-, tion, and the shaft 29 is driven in harmony with the record I4. against the restraint of the spring 44, and the interval between the lower end of the stem 4| and theupper tip of the spindle 39 is uncovered, whereby the record l4 may be lifted free from the spindle and removed from the apparatus. Accordingly, accommodation is made for the ready interchanging .ofrecords.

The contacts 26 that are adapted to close the normally open electric pick-up circuit 12 are mounted in electric isolation from one another on a bracket 21a, extending laterally from the standard 21. As may be perceived in Fig. V1, the contacts 26 advantageously comprise two leaf springs 29a and 26b; spring 29a carries at its distal end a small cylinder 45 in which a springbacked plunger 7 46 is organized. The plunger, although secured in the cylinder 45, normally projects therefrom a substantial interval, as shown in Fig. III, and in the normal position of the shaft 29, the projecting end of the plunger lies clear of the periphery of the cam 39, and the two contacts 29a, 26!) stand apart, as shown in Fig. VI. It will now be shown that, by closing the circuit e and energizingthe electromagnet 24, the constantly rotating shaft 29 is shifted, carrying the cam 39 to the left (Fig. III) and bringing the periphery of the cam into cooperative relation with the plunger 49. That is, the tip of the plunger is caused to overlie the periphery of the cam, whereby, during approximately one rotation of the cam, the plunger, sliding peripherally upon it, is elevated, the contact element 29a in consequence is swung upward and outward, and electric communication is established with the contact element 26b, as shown in Fig. VII. Thus, the circuit b (Fig. 11) is closed, and the speaker 23 announces.

The means for shifting the shaft 29, to effect the above results, are found in a vertically arrangedlever 41, pivotally mounted intermediate its upper and lower ends upon the standard 29 The sleeve 42 may be slid upward plunger.

(Fig. IH) The electromagnet 24 includes a plate 24a of soft iron, secured on an inverted U-spring 24b, and normally maintained (by the'spring) an otherwise free end of the -U-shaped spring 241);

when, during the play of the game, a ball effects the closing of any one of the make-and-break devices 9, and consequently effects the energizing of magnet 24, the paramagnetic plate 24a is drawn toward the magnetic core 240, the lever 41 is swung counterclockwise, the shaft 29 is shifted to the left, the spring 32 is compressed, and the cam 39 is moved toward the cylinder 49 carried on the distal end of contact spring 2611.

It will be observed that the periphery of the cam includesv a recess or depression 3911, into which the plunger 46 may extend (Fig. VI) when the cam is shifted to the left (Fig. III) by the electromagnet. It will be understood, however, that the cam 39 normally rotates continuously, and, ordinarily, the recess 39a in the cam will not lie in position to receive the plunger 46 at the moment a played ball effects the energizing of the electromagnet and the consequent shifting of shaft 29 and cam 39. In such ordinary case, the side of the laterally shifting cam engages the tip of'the plunger 49 and forces it axially, against spring pressure, into its supporting cylinder 45,

as shown in Fig. IV. The plunger 49 is held in suchcompressed position by the side face of the rotating cam, until the recess 39a in the periphery of the cam moves into alignment with the 'Thereupon, the plunger springs outward into the recess, as shown in Figs. V and VI. As the rotation of the cam continues, with the plunger 49 thus overlying the edge of the cam, the contact element 26a is swung upward, closing the contacts 26, as shown in Fig. V11, and completing the electric pick-up circuit b (Fig. II). The contacts 26 are held in closed position andthe circuit b remains complete while the cam is making the ensuing rotation, and in such interval the speaker 23 reproduces one of the speeches recorded on the record l4.

It will be understood that the momentary closing of the contacts 9 givesonly a momentary energizing of the electromagnet 24, and the tendency is for the spring 32 to restore the shaft 29 to its normal position immediately after the electromagnet is deenergized and before the cam 39 has had opportunity to operate the contacts 26 in the desired manner. To meet this-condition, I provide means for holding. the rotating cam in shifted position long enough for the plunger 46 to enter the recess 39a. in the cam, and, having thus. entered, for the cam to continue rotation through substantially 360 .with

' the plunger'riding its periphery.

As' above mentioned, eight rotations of the record-turning spindle 39 produce one rotation of the cam 39; each recorded speech lies within eight-turns of the continuous spiral-recording groove .of the record, and, between successive recorded speeches, substantially one convolution- .or turn of the groove is blank or unrecorded. The angular position of the cam 39 on the shaft 29 is so oriented with the positions of the recorded between successive l5 speeches recorded in the groove. Accordingly,

regardless of the particular moment at which a played ball closes a contact 9 and energizes the electromagnet 28, the contacts 26 and the speechcam 39in the position, into which the momentarily' energized electromagnet axially shifts it, consist in a cylinder 49 that is rigidly integrated with an arm 50, pivotally secured, at to a supporting bracket 28a. A spring-backed plunger 52 is axially movable inthe cylinder; and normally projects therefrom, as shown in Fig. III; a rigid pin 53 is carried by the cylinder 49 and projects therefrom in parallelism with the plunger. In the normal, idly rotating operation of the shaft 29, the rigid pin 59 of the cylinder 49 is 7 held in yielding, engagement with the periphery of the'cam 30, by means of a. spring 54. During the continuous, idle rotation of the earn, the cylinder and plunger assembly 49, 52 swing up and down about the pivot point 5|, in a motion determined by the contour of the camsperiphery.

when, however, the electromagnet 24 is, momentarily energized, and the shaft 29 isshifted to the left (Fig. III), the. rotating cam, is moved.

from beneath the pin 59, and the spring 54 draws the cylinder and plunger assembly downward; the downward movement of the cylinder assembly is arrested by suitable meatgs, and conv niently an annular shoulder 39b 0 he cam serves to this endthe tip of the I shoulder, as shownin g. IV.

More specifically, the momentary energizing of theelectromagnet 24 shifts the rotating cam 30 into the full-line position shown in Fig. IV; as soon 'as the momentary action of the magnet is ended, the compressed spring 32 shifts the cam to the right, and tends .-.to return it toits normal position. That is to say, the spring 32 laterally shifts the rotating cam to the right, and, during sure of the laterally shifting cam, the plunger 52 (in-being organized with a spring in cylinder 49, as shown in JFIKQLIII) yields inward of the cylinder- 49 until presently the cam comes laterally to abutment with the tip of rigid pin 53 and is arrested. The dotted lines in Fig. IV indicate the arrestedposition of the cam, and in such position the cam continues in rotation. The two cylinders 45 and 49 lie in common vertical plane, and it will be understood that, when the recess 30a in the rotating cam'moves into the position shown in Fig. VI, the spring-backed plungers 46 arid 52 are severally freed from engagement with the opposite sides of the cam and severally' spring into such position that their tips overlie the perlphery of the cam, as shown in Fig. V. (It will be readily perceived that, if the cam recess 30a happens to be opposite the plungers 46, 52 at the moment the electromagnet 24 is energized, the shifting of the cam will-cause the tips of the two plungers immediately to enter the recess 30a.)

The rigid pin 53, by abutment against the right pin 53 bearing on the' side of the rotating cam, secures the cam in position for circuit-closing cooperation with the plunger 46, and, during the uninterrupted and immediately ensuingrotation of the cam, both plungers'46, 52 ride the cams periphery, and the contacts 26 are held in circuit-closing engagement (Fig. VII). When the cam approaches the end of the particular rotation in which both plungers 46,52 are borne on its periphery, the cam recess 30a again enters the position shown in Fig. V, but now, it will-be-understood, the plunger 52 bears uponthe peak of the cam, as shown in Fig. VIII, thereby sustaining the rigid finger53 above or outward of the bottom of recess 30a. Thus, as the cam recess 30a moves into the position shown in Fig. VIII, the abutment of the rigid pin 59 against the side of the cam is interrupted, and, under the influence of compressed spring 32, the cam 90 and shaft 29 move to the right (Fig. V), back into normal position. As the cam thus moves into normal position (the movement of the cam in Fig. VIII being on the line of sight) the tip of rigid pin 53 enters the recess 30a. The pin 53 rides the periphery of the now idly rotating cam 30, in the manner already described, and illustrated in Fig. III.

As already mentioned, the electric pick-up I5 is, by known record-repeating means, automatically lifted and returned from the end of the recording groove of the record l4 to the beginning, so that, during the play of the game, the

stylus ll continuously engages thegroove of the of the cam with'respect to the positions of be destroyed. In order' to maintain this cobrdination, I provide an abutment against which the stylus I1 is automatically positioned: by said record-repeating means. The :stylus' naturally -;tends to follow the rotating records'groove. but the abutment 55 normally bars such movement of the stylus until the rotating record reaches the proper angular positlon'of coordination with respect to the cam. Thereupon, the abutment is automatically retractedifand the stylus enter e recorded groove of therecord.

the terminal of a flexible steel wire that extends the several speeches recorded on the record will Advantageously, theabutment 55 comprises through a rigidly supported guiding tube 56. The

remote end (5541) of the wire is connected to jects from the end of tube 56. Therecord re peating means, in restoring pick-up 15 to the :beginning of the record, places the stylus IT to the right of the-wire terminal 55, as viewed in Fig. VI, and it will be understood that, so long as the end of the wire projects from the tube 56, it serves to bar the movement of the stylus ll into the record's groove. When the recess 39d?" l for the stylus to start "following the groove at of the continuously rotating cam 30 moves into registry with the wheel 59, the arm 51 swings clockwise (Fig. VI) under the tension of spring 60, and such movement of the arm shifts the wire within the tube 56 and retracts the projecting end 55 of the wire. Thereupon the stylus is freed of restraint, and beings to "follow" the record's groove. The proportions and relative speeds of the moving parts are so determined that the wire 55 is retracted at just the proper time a. point in advance of the first speech recording on the record Thus, the position of the stylus in the records groove is oriented with the recess Slla in the rotating cam 30 in such manner as to produce the synchronized operation above described. During the continuous rotation of the cam, the arm 51 is oscillated intermittently, and the wire within the tube 56 is correspondingly reciprocated, periodically retracting and projecting the tip 55 of the wire. Of course, if the wire tip 55 is in retracted position when the pick-up i is returned to initial position, the stylus will immediately begin to follow the groove in proper orientation with the recess 30w in the cam. I I

In considering the following claims, it will be understoodthat the orifices 3 in the playing surface 1 (Fig. I) comprise scoring regions, and that each ball 5 comprises a movable playing element. And it is contemplated that my automatic speech or sound-reproducing mechanism may be used with apparatus other than pineball games. V I

I claim as my invention:

1. Game apparatus including a playing surface and one or more scoring zones, a movable playing element, sound-producing mechanism arranged in cooperative relation with. a member bearing aplurality of sound recordings, means connected to said sound-producing mechanism for controlling its operation, said means including a normally open circuit, means'responsive to said playing element for closing said circuit, and

operation at the end of such recording.

a device responsive to the closing of such cir-' cult for automatically initiating sound-producing operation of said mechanism at the beginning of one of the severalrecordings on said member, and means for automatically terminating such operation of said mechanism at the beginning oi one or the several recordings on said member, and means 101' automatically terminating such operation at the'end of such recording, said cir cuit including a circuit-controlling ated by said playing element. i

3. Game apparatus including a playing element and mechanism including a rotating member switch actubearing a plurality of sound recordings, an electric pick-up cooperating with said record-bearing member, an electrically operated speaker, an electric circuit connecting said pick-up to said speaker, and means operated by said playing element for controlling said circuit.

4. Game apparatus including a movable playing element and mechanism including a rotating member bearing a plurality of sound recordings, an electric pick-up cooperating with said rotating member, an electrically operated speaker, an electric circuit from said pick-up to said speaker, and means responsive to said playing element and including a member rotatable in synchronism with said record-bearing member for controlling said circuit. r

5. Game apparatus including a movable playing element and mechanism including a rotating niember bearing a. plurality of sound recordings, an electric pick-up cooperating with said rotating member, an electrically operated speaker, an electric circuit from said pick-upto said speaker, means including a member rotatable in synchronism with said record-bearing member for controlling said circuit, and means actuated by said playing element for controlling the operation of said circuit-controlling means.

6. Game apparatus including a movable play-. ing element, a rotating member bearing a plurality of sound recordings, an electric circuit, an

electric pick-up included in said circuit, said pickup includinga stylus cooperating with said member, and means for automatically returning said pick-up from theend'oi the recordings on said rotating member to the beginning,'mechanism operating in synchronism with said rotating member, said mechanism including an electric make-and-break device for controlling said circuit, andmeans actuated by said playing element for controlling operation of said make-andbreak device.

7. Game apparatus including a playing element and mechanism including a rotating member bearing a plurality of sound recordings, an electric pick-up cooperating with said member, an electrically'operated speaker, an electric circuit connecting said pick-up to said speaker,

means operated by said playing element for controlling said circuit, means for automatically 'returning said pick-up from the end of the recordings on said rotating member to the beginning,

and means for orienting the position of said -pick-mp at said beginning with the first recordings on said rotating member.

, 8. Game apparatus including a movable playing element a rotating member bearing a plurality of sound recordings, an electric circuit, an

pick-up including a stylus cooperating with said rotating member, and means for returning said pickup from theend of the recordings on said rotating member to the beginning, mechanism operating in synchronism with said rotating 9mm 1;. bonsnim.

velectric pick-up included. in said circuit, said 

